PAT CAPUTO: How the Detroit Red Wings can use NHL free agency to make a Stanley Cup run

By PAT CAPUTO

Thursday, July 4, 2013

The difference between last summer and this one is dramatic for the Red Wings.

Last July, there was intense pressure, from the Red Wings' fan base, put on general manager Ken Holland and the organization to land big-time free agents, particularly defenseman Ryan Suter and/or winger Zach Parise.

It turned out to be Mission Impossible for Holland. All the advantages the Red Wings traditionally have had with free agents didn't apply to Suter and Parise.

Neither is Canadian, so Detroit's location as a border city with Canada had no impact. Neither is European, so the Red Wings' status as pioneers in procuring talent internationally didn't come into play. Neither played collegiately in the CCHA, so they didn't have a previous view of Joe Louis Arena as a Hockey Mecca. Being American wasn't a factor, either. Suter is from Wisconsin and his wife is from Minnesota. Parise's father was one of the all-time great players for the old Minnesota North Stars. He prepped in Minnesota, his wife is from Minnesota and he starred collegiately at nearby North Dakota. The Red Wings had little chance with Suter, who they coveted in the aftermath of Nicklas Lidstrom's retirement. They had no chance with Parise, and really didn't bother trying. That was before each received contracts from the Minnesota Wild for a whopping $98 million apiece.

It led to a lot of "what's wrong with the Red Wings" rhetoric, which only accelerated during the regular season when the team's performance was spotty.

It was before the Red Wings ousted Anaheim in the playoffs. It was prior to the Red Wings pushing the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks harder than any other team during the Western Conference semifinals.

Not signing Suter and Parise appears to be a blessing in disguise. The Red Wings were forced to rely on what they do best - developing players from within.

Subsequently, this off season nobody is clamoring for the Red Wings to sign big names. The bigger issue is whether Holland tweaks the roster properly. The Red Wings won't be the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference during the first year of the NHL's re-alignment, but they appear to be in much better shape than they did last summer.

These are five potential free agents I can see helping the Red Wings:

- Nathan Horton: He is a 6-2, 230-pound winger with a scoring touch and a championship pedigree with Boston.

- David Clarkson: Another physical winger who fits in with the more rugged style of play in the Eastern Conference, Clarkson played outstanding hockey for Devils when they advanced the Stanley Cup final in 2012. He is probably the free agent most capable of producing the Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist, a fight) on a consistent basis.

- Andrew Ference: A solid veteran defenseman, who has still has something left in the tank after several years with Boston. The Red Wings' defense is remains young overall. Ference would provide a much-needed veteran presence.

- Rob Scuderi: He averaged 22 minutes per game in 38 playoff games the last two years during deep playoff runs, including the '12 title, for Los Angeles. A steady defenseman, who was plus 18 in those 38 games.

- Stephen Weiss: His talent has been wasted all these years with Florida. A perfect replacement for departing free agent two-way forward Valtteri Filppula.

The Red Wings were wise to sign goalie Jimmy Howard to a long-term deal before he hit free agency. A top priority should be re-signing winger Damien Brunner, whose knack for scoring goals last season was a huge boost.

But they don't have to do anything this off-season. The Red Wings can pick and choose.

Given the still-stellar track record of Holland and the organization as a whole for more than two decades, the expectation is the Red Wings will select wisely.